Japanese-born American Grandmaster the John McEnroe of Chess

[Hugh Jørgen]

Chess Champ Hikaru Nakamura: Next Bobby Fischer?

At the U.S. Chess Championships under way in St. Louis, all eyes are on America's top-ranked player, and the favorite going into the tournament, Hikaru Nakamura.

During the past decade, Nakamura has made a name for himself as the new superstar of American chess, and with it, he's become a kind of spokesperson for a game that hasn't been too popular in this country since the days of world champion Bobby Fischer.

In an interview with NPR's Michel Martin for Tell Me More's series on Asian-American "game changers," Nakamura says the comparisons with Fischer are always present. In 2003, at the age of 15, Nakamura became the youngest American chess grandmaster. In 2005, he became the youngest player to win the U.S. Championships; he won it again in 2009.

Now, at the age of 24, Nakamura is ranked seventh in the world, and is believed to have the best chance of any American since Fischer to take the No. 1 slot. But he doesn't mind the pressure that comes with that role

"What Bobby Fischer did for chess in America was great," Nakamura says. "I feel like I have that chance, that opportunity to get to world champion, to raise the profile of chess, and ultimately that's my goal."

Heading into the U.S. Championships, Nakamura was 10 points shy of breaking Fischer's record for most points earned in his chess career. To prepare, Nakamura pores over databases of past games, looking at his opponent's first few moves, searching for any kind of weakness....

[Hammer]

This is refreshing.

When was the last time we heard some positive news about chess, rather than the rather unpleasant antics of one of its former champions? Not that I'm a huge chess fan (or even a decent player), but for a while there it seemed like chess was pretty much dead in the water, so this is good news.

[Russell]

Don't forget the "Dutch" secret weapon:

The Dutch chess community is brimming with anticipation. Anish Giri, a Russian native, has lived in Rijswijk for two years and is registered as a Dutch national with the international chess federation FIDE. He just might be the next Dutch superstar. He became a grandmaster at the tender age of 14, shattering the former record. In September, he became the youngest player ever to win the Dutch chess championship.

He has also lived in Japan, and speaks Japanese.

[IparryU]

So now Japanese has something to do with chess success...

[Russell]

So now Japanese has something to do with chess success...

Actually not. The time he lived in Japan was regarded by Anish Giri himself as time lost in his development as a Chess talent. Still he is became Grandmaster at the youngest age ever. And he is doing it only part-time, giving preference to his school studies. This guy must be a genius.